Delhi orders safety audits for housing societies after fatal building collapse

Following the September 6 collapse of a five-storey building in Satya Niketan that resulted in seven deaths, the Delhi government has mandated comprehensive safety audits for all Cooperative Group Housing Societies (CGHS) in the city.

The Registrar of Cooperative Societies (RCS) issued a circular instructing managing committees to take responsibility for identifying structural deficiencies and implementing remedial actions. These audits are expected to involve qualified structural engineers to assess structural safety, verify fire safety certificates, and ensure the proper maintenance of lifts and firefighting installations. Societies must inspect for major cracks, seepage, leakage, and damage to roofs, external walls, or staircases.

The Satya Niketan incident has highlighted broader concerns regarding unauthorized construction, the quality of building materials, and the lack of adequate student housing near Delhi University. Critics have noted that declining public funding for education infrastructure contributes to the precarious conditions of student accommodations.